Some of the pioneers who started or attended the
first World's Championship were: Carroll Shelby, Tom Tierney, H. Allen
Smith, Wick Fowler, Dave Witts, Bill Neale, Frank X. Tolbert, Father
Duffy, Ormly Gumfudgin, and Bill Doner to name a few. It was a shoot-out
between Wick Fowler and H. Allen Smith. There were three judges; Hallie
Stilwell, Floyd Schneider and Dave Witts. Hallie voted for H. Allen, Floyd
voted for Wick. Dave Witts, the self- proclaimed mayor of Terlingua and
third judge, spat out both samples and declared his taste buds were
ruined! He called it a draw and declared a moratorium for one year.